Nathanial Gann and his sister, Brae Hansen, were accused by investigators of murdering their stepfather in 2007. On Wednesday, a jury convicted him.
Timothy MacNeil, a criminal defense attorney, was shot and killed in his Rolando home in July 2007. MacNeil was tied up and shot to death by Gann during what was a staged robbery, prosecutors believe.
MacNeil's family spoke to the media after the verdict was read, saying they were glad they could get justice. They said they hoped Gann "rots in hell."
Jurors found Gann guilty of first-degree murder in the case. Gann was also charged with a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, but they returned a verdict of not guilty on that count. He could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Prosecutors allege Gann killed MacNeil with the help of his sister, Hansen, 19. She was 18 at the time. Gann, 20, whose first trial ended in a mistrial, was being retried at the same time his sister faced her first trial.
Prosecutors believe Hansen was mad at MacNeil and that she and her brother allegedly tried to make the slaying look like a phony home invasion robbery.
Hansen confessed to planning the murder with Gann, according to police. Defense attorneys, however, maintain that her rights were violated.
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Even Hansen's defense attorneys aren't arguing Hansen didn't plan the attack. "Brae Hansen made a horrible mistake," said defense attorney Troy Britt.
Gann was being tried in the case for the second time. His first trial ended in a hung jury. In this trial, his lawyer argued that Gann had no motive. In his first trial, jurors were stuck at seven in favor of a guilty verdict and five casting not guilty votes. The judge polled jurors and declared a mistrial.
Hansen and Gann were tried at the same time, with two juries seated in the case. There was a blue jury for Hansen and a red jury for Gann. Jurors returned a verdict in the Hansen case on Thursday, but Judge Frederic Link decided to seal that verdict until the Gann jury concludes its deliberations.
